The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-01-23
HER WEDDING PRESENT.
Hush ! It is Clarence Hyde's step.v

And Rosa Eld0n sprang to her feet rosy
and smiling, with the freshly pluckei
'lioliotrope trembling among her glossy
brown braids, and her pretty blue dress
floating round her like an azure cloud.
Only eighteen, and very fair and lovely
was our little Rosa--a trfiie spoiled and
wilful, perhaps, but what else could one
expect? Everyone pctted and made much
Of her. and Clarence Hyde thought her
the fairest specimen of feminine humanity
that ever the sun shone on.
Lzzy Eldon made room for her sister
-Lizzy, just one year younger, and
scarcely less fair, yet very different in
character. L'zzy was quiet, and sage,
and demure, while Rosa ratified away like
merry mountain-stream flowing over its
messy stones. Lizzy thought her sister
perfection, while Rosa was always lectur-
ing Lizzy 10 capricious fashion, and
laying down the law to her after the most
approved manner of elder sisters.
Bow nice it must be to be engagedr'
said Lizzy with half.encouraging smile
as Rosa paused at the glass to admire her
hair. II wish were engaged"
You? oh, you are nothing but a
child" Rosa said patroniziDgly. There,
give me my pocket-handkerchief."
4 And away she went, light and 1.-the as
blue-winged butterfly.
Clarence Hyde was in the parlor anx-
ionsly awaiting her coming; but Clarence
had rather disturbed face. He was a
well-made, handsome young fellow, with
laughing wine brown eyes, straight feat
ures, and bro En hair thrown back from a
broad frank brow.
Why what makes you look so sober p
was Rosa's first arch question, when the
cceremonials of greeting were gone through
with and she had time to take a good look
Tito his face.
''Sober? Do II"
He was PLAYING rather restlessly with
the crimson cord that looped back the
wife muslin draperies of the pretty bay
window that made Mrs. Eldon's cottage
look like one of The lovely rustic habita-
dions you see in English enerayings.
Exactly as if you had the too.hache or
q bad conscience"
Clarence laughed in spite of himself.
You are wrong. then, my little riddle
4guesser; am afflicted with neither one
nor the other
"Well, what IS it, then?'
Rosa, what would you say if it were
to become necessary to defer our marriage
for some timer"
A shadow came over the infantine
boom and freshness CT Rosa's face.
10 defer our marriage, Clarence?" l
can't imagine what you mean"
Listen, Rosa, and will tell you. NY
-&incle has just come from California very
poor and confirmed invalid | am his
only surviving relative, and to me he
naturally appeals for protection end COM
panionship. must give him a home,
Rosa. You know l had laid up Just
enough to begin housekeeping in quiet
economical sort of way, bnt. this new
plan will necessarily alter all my arrange
ments.
= never heard of any uncle before
No, dearest; knew very little of him
nothing personally-as he never visited
my father during his lifetime"
R0saS face was turned away from
. Clarence Hydes; she was silently twist
irg bit Of iaper round and round her
slender forefDgers
Rosa, he said, after waiting minute
or two for her to make some remark, 'ste'l
me honestly, dear one, which you Id
prefer-to begin housekeeping on this
new scale-oDe humber and more frugal
than had originally hoped and intended
Or to defer our marriage until can earn
enough to carry out taose original arrange
ments?"
She was silent for moment, then she
answered, in voice which seemed TO
chill Clarencs's buoyant young heart:
Neitherl"
"Rosa," be exclaimed, Il do not under
stand you'll"
II spoke plainly enough. Neither
"Do you mean that -"
81 mean that you must either give I'D
In orr Ill L
said aad known of our engagement. after
Its publicity and length, certainly cannot
consent to its further posponement, And
we shall be poor enough, if we marry i'm
Mediately, without filling our house with
a host of needy relatives"
Clarence Hyde looked at his fair fancee
in perfect amazement. Never in the
WI ole course OF their acquaintance had
he seen this phase of her character. He
bad fancled her all that was sweet. pure
and wonlanly. Could it be possible that
she was cold-hearted, selfish, and dead 10
all The sweet ties of nature9 Rosa" be
ssaid mournfully, sis this to part us?.'
ut is for you to say
Do you wish me to give up my poor
dependent uncle?"
Either him or me" Rosa answered
indiffeiently.
1t Will be hard-veTy hard for me to
lay aside the brightest wishes of my lfe,"
he said earnestly; "but. Rosa duty is my
first object. / cannot leave my uncle
TO wear out his few remaining days in
poverry and solitud :"
Very welr answered Rosa, carelessly
STOPPING to pick up the odolous purple
blossom wnich had fallen from ber hair;
then we will consider our engagement
>at an end. :
"And yoa, can give me up so readily,
Rosa?"
On said Rosa a little impatiently;